[Fratty Redneck]

Is anyone familiar with the EA exams? My employer has asked that I take these exams within the next month. Just curious on the difficulty of the exams and how much studying it will actually require. I know I’ve heard that the EA is nothing compared to the CPA, but the practice tests online aren’t exactly a cake walk.

[Ag12thman]

@turo9992000 – I have about 8 years of tax experience, but am not yet studying for REG (for my CPA). I'm studying for FAR. Do you think I could pass the EA with minimal studying if I were to give it a shot? I'd want to do it so, like you, I could represent clients between now and getting the CPA finished (which will probably take until Spring, at the earliest, probably).

FAR: July 2016

[turo9992000]

@Ag12thman, If I could do it again, I would have tried going in without studying. I probably could have passed 1 and 3 with very minimal or no studying. If you don't mind $112, maybe try scheduling something in the next couple days just to see how you do. You get your score right away.

Part 2 was a little tricky, a lot of basis questions.

[kay]

Hi, I think you will be fine taking the EAs exams if you have studied for REG recently. A little back ground… I graduated college in 2013.. just got my first real accounting job in June. Prior to that, I did 2 seasons of individual only tax prep with HR BLock, I just took the EA exams within a 3-week time frame studying for about a week per section back in May. I passed them all no problem and rolled right into studying for REG… REG was infinitely harder and I'm convinced I failed miserably.. scores come out next week so we will know then for sure. And I agree with the previous post about just trying section 1 and 3, and then maybe study a bit for 2.

[Fratty Redneck]

Thanks for all of the feedback! It seems that people have varying opinions on the level of difficulty. I'm going to stick to my original plan and try to get all 3 knocked out by October 3rd. Here goes nothing!

[Anonymous]

EA exams are definitely doable if you are decent in Tax.

On the Prometric website it lists the CSO for the exams..Works out almost to a T. And you'll see questions from the PassKey book on the exam or worded slightly differently. I bought the PassKey 3in One that covers the content for all three sections. I like to flip around in books.
But even if you pass, it still takes about 60-90 days to hear back from them. And the IRS usually sits on the app till the deadline.

Goodluck. I did 1-2-3 in that order with no issue. EA Part II is a doozy though.

[Author]

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